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If you’re outside Japan and are interested in the Switch port of Fishing Spirits, you’re in luck: Bandai Namco wants to reel you in, hook, line, and sinker. The company has announced it will be localizing Fishing Spirits in English. The game’s title will be changed to Ace Angler for the English-language edition, and it’ll be sold in Southeast Asia.
If you happen to be in North America or Europe, though, there’s no need to fret. The Nintendo Switch is region-free, and Switch games bought in other countries or in other regions’ eShops will be playable on your home accounts. Ace Angler should be compatible as well, once it releases in late July 2020.
Japanese publishers have in the last few years grown fond of Southeast Asia, a region with many countries full of English-speaking players, like Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. Games perceived as having limited commercial appeal in North America or Europe are often given an English-language localization and released to Southeast Asia. Other titles with complex licensing requirements like Banpresto’s Super Robot Wars titles, or even controversial content, like Dead or Alive Xtreme 3, have received Asia-only releases, with publishers trusting that any outsiders interested enough would be willing to jump through a couple of minor hoops to get them via import. The strategy has boosted sales, while saving publishers the costs associated with a “native” release in those regions.
Bandai Namco appears to be taking that tack with its release strategy for Ace Angler. Check out a subtitled trailer for the game below:
Ace Angler will be available for the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2020.
